The Prevalence of Gangs in Nakuru County: Contributory Factors

Executive Summary

As we approach the August 9, 2022 elections, runaway insecurity perpetrated by gangs in Nakuru County is a source of concern. The brief situates that the curse of political patronage, reactionary security operations, widespread unemployment, and drug trafficking as key contributing factors to the occurrence of these groups. It recommends, among others, a multiagency approach in enforcing the Prevention of Organized Crime Act (2010) to pre-empt backing of gangs by the political class, strengthening land and border controls to curtail drug trafficking, enhancing collaborations and partnerships to address unemployment, and leveraging on community policing as a proactive crime deterrence intervention.